Eagles and Orsak Dominate AjPHA 13 and Under and 14-18 Horsemanship

By: Brittany Bevis

13 and under Horsemanship

Miss Olivia Eagles proved once again that she is virtually unbeatable in pattern classes here at the 2014 AjPHA Youth World Show. With her her dependable 11-year-old gelding, Chipped In Roses, by her side, Eagles has won a World Championship title in 13 and under Equitation, was the unanimous winner in 13 and under Showmanship, and the Reserve Champion in 13 and under Western Riding. Now, she can add unanimous World Champion in 13 and under Horsemanship to her impressive resume.

“I liked the pattern, because it was challenging,” she says. “We worked on the fast circle to slow circle a lot, so we were pretty prepared for that part. It was a fun pattern.”

Eagles has worked extremely hard on perfecting her horsemanship skills, but her comfort level with complex patterns and excellent leg position is something that has come quite naturally for the 13-year-old. It also helps that she has a dependable mount.

“Brett is a really, good pattern horse,” she says. “He’s very dependable, and I can push him pretty hard. He always does what I want him to do.

This is Eagles’s last year in the 13 and under age division. She is looking forward to taking the next step in her youth career with Brett by her side.

“I’m excited [for 14-18],” she says. “I think it’s going to be fun. It’s a new challenge, but it’s going to be fun.”

Eagles and Brett currently compete under the guidance of Simons Show Horses.

14-18 Horsemanship

It’s been a two, long weeks, but Sarah Orsak finally achieved what she came to Fort Worth for. She and her 12-year-old gelding, My Cowboy Cadillac, aka “Charlie,” were named the World Champions in 14-18 Horsemanship in their very last class here at the AjPHA Youth World Show.

While some competitors struggled with the challenging and lengthy pattern that included multiple turns, square corners, extended trots, a lead change on a counter canter, and only one cone, this was exactly the type of pattern that allows Charlie to shine.

“It was a very unusual pattern,” Orsak says. “I thought it was great for him, because we can make it really pretty and flowy. It was a really good pattern for us. I think his extended trots, spins, and our back helped us get plus points.”

“Reid [Thomas] is a pattern guy. We went over the pattern a lot, practiced really late, and went over all our lines.”

Although this team is done here at the AjPHA Youth World, Charlie also happens to be double-registered, so he’ll be heading up to Oklahoma City for the AQHYA World Show in a few weeks. Orsak and Charlie have qualified in halter, showmanship, equitation, horsemanship, and trail.

14-18 Horsemanship-

1-My Cowboy Cadillac/Sarah Orsak

2-My Sensational Cookie/Taylor Dixon

3-Shez Eye Candy/Drew Rogers

4-Total Assets/Kristina Hermanson

5-Zippos Redemption/Mary Camp

Intermediate-

1-My Cowboy Cadillac/Sarah Orsak

2-Total Assets/Kristina Hermanson

3-Zippos Redemption/Mary Camp

4-Zippos Paycheck/Elizabeth Collins

5-Optimized/Logan Taylor

13 and under Horsemanship–

1-Chipped In Roses/Olivia Eagles (unanimous)

2-Just One Kiss/Skylar Smith

3-Who Painted Me/Abigail Love

4-A Spot In Heaven/Hannah Stokan

5-Sensational Wow/Brooklyn Moch

Intermediate-

1-Who Painted Me/Abigail Love

2-A Spot In Heaven/Hannah Stokan

3-Just Say Whoa/Rebecca Figueroa

4-Carlee Purcell/Only In Hollywood

5-I’m Zipped All Right/Samantha Stubblefield